Students Gather in Solidarity Following Shooting Outside San Francisco School

By Bay City News •Published October 19, 2016•Updated on October 19, 2016 at 7:55 pm

Students at a high school in San Francisco's Excelsior District returned to class Wednesday following a shooting that took place in the parking lot Tuesday afternoon, according to San Francisco Unified School District officials.

Four 15-year-old students, three males and one female, were injured in the shooting that occurred around 3:15 p.m. just as June Jordan School for Equity at 325 La Grande Ave. was letting out for the day.

Police on Wednesday said one suspect pulled out a gun in the school parking lot and began shooting as everyone ran. As many as four suspects then fled west on Brazil Avenue.

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One student suffered life-threatening injuries in the attack, but district officials today said all four are recovering.

Students said the entire school joined together for a peace circle on Wednesday morning.

The school's co-director, Jessica Huang, participated in the peace circle.

In addition to safey, Huang said she wants every student to feel valued, which is why she wore a Black Lives Matter shirt on Wednesday.

Interim Superintendent Myong Leigh said she understood that the shooting was committed by a "small group of outsiders unaffiliated with the school" who appeared to be targeting a particular student for reasons that remain unclear.

Police have said the other students injured in the attack appear to have been bystanders.

Leigh said the incident had "shaken everyone in the community."

"I need to state emphatically that this isolated event, although awful, should not be viewed as a negative reflection on JJSE," Leigh said, describing the school as an intentionally small school that emphasizes social justice, preparation for college and "rigorous, independent thinking."

The school has a "strong tradition" of coming together to discuss challenging topics, and will also provide trained counselors following Tuesday's shooting, Leigh said.